Review: Bride’s Last U.S. Show

When Bride announced its last show on U.S. soil, a lot of folks made plans to be there. Like they say on social media and text threads, “If you know, you know (IYKYK).”

Bride has it. Yeah, that italicized it. The it factor that some bands have and most don’t. It’s not really something that can be taught or learned. It’s a quality that is felt. It’s been called magic. It’s been called soul. It’s been called charisma, chrm, personality, life, character, even “ooomph!” They have the ability to conjure a feeling, a vibe, and to capture and unleash it in a room full of people. Sometimes it takes a song or two, or an extended section, some groove that acts as a solid foundation for improvisation to happen and travel anywhere and come back on a whim. Hate ’em for their theology or whatever, but you can’t take that away from them.

We saw it on display once again at this concert billed as their last US show. While Jamie Rowe humorously joked about it in his portion of a wonderful collage of old Christian rock and metal veterans (Stryper, Shout, Living Sacrifice, Mortifification, One Bad Pig, Petra, Sacred Warrior, Trytan, Whitecross, Bloodgood, Pastor Bob), this truly looks to be Bride’s last hoorah in the US. The reasons are just the years wearing on the humans who are making this magic music. 

This video montage that played on a large video screen on stage set the tone, and then it was time for this lion ro roar once again. The rhythm section launched into “Would You Die For Me” and the room belonged to Bride for the next hour and some change. You know the monster wave of a riff that that song carries. It’s just huge. It’s as heavy as “When the Levee Breaks,” but as fast as “Trampled Under Foot.” This is what we’ve all loved about Bride since they made the change from double bass drumming and screaming metal to grooves as deep as sin hard rock. The band was on in an instant. Not every band can start a show with this much power and sway. While some shows start with a throwaway song to get the mix right, they were all dialed in from the get-go.

“Whiskey Seed” was next without a break, and then they launched into another beat you up and push you around rocker with Scarecrow Messiah‘s “Beast.” This one really shows off the poetry of the lyrics and the dynamics that Dale’s voice can bring. The dude is truly the Axl Rose of Christian rock.

Throughout the rest of the show, bassist Frank Partipilo was a rock star, as if he was really feeling the tunes, caressing the bass guitar like a Rudy Sarzo in a Whitesnake video. He and drummer Michael Loy laid down the tightest rhythm section, keeping that low end solid and pounding. After the show, I grabbed the mic and asked the audience to pray for that poor little drumset he beat senseless for over an hour. Lord, have mercy! Dale and Troy have always found the best rhythm sections and this night was no exception.

Six songs into the set they slowed down with a crowd favorite from Kinetic Faith, “I Miss the Rain.” Of course, this segued into “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” which had the audience singing along.

“Fool Me Once” rocked steady and hard, which was followed by another great tune dripping with attitude, “Hired Gun.” It’s so cool how the lyrical story matches the riffs and vice-versa. It was like grooving along to “Stranglehold,” which isn’t a fear stretch when you note that Gibson Byrdland that Troy’s been playing for decades.

Of course, “Everybody Knows My Name” was saved for late in the set. It sounded so good. They capped off their American touring career with “Psychedelic Super Jesus” and it was over. It wasn’t as bittersweet as it might sound, as it just rocked so hard and gave the audience such joy and energy.

Dale walked back to the mic after they took a bow and took one of those band selfies from the drum riser. He wanted the crowd to know that, in spite of what anyone has heard online about his theology, that he’s always been about preaching Jesus.

Before the show started a heavy and grungy band called Under Blood rocked. The next band was Legacy, who are local Ohio band. They played like professionals, hitting all those harmony vocals well and playing some mean guitar licks as if it was easy. Matt Rice has still got the mad skills that helped get this melodic metal band noticed. He looks a little like the short-haired Eddie Van Halen of his later years, and his effortless looking shredding was a thrill to watch and hear. Frontman Doug Meacham hit all those required high notes. No let downs from these middle aged guys. They still have it.

Rockhouse39 is a great midwestern venue carrying on the legacy of The King’s Place, which hosted many a great Christian rock and metal show in the ’80s, ’90s, and early 2000s.

If you’d like to see the cool send-off video montage (edited by Randy Townley), watch it here:

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Featured photo with Troy Thompson playing the double-neck guitar taken by Jennifer Van Pelt.

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